GOD IS APPROACHABLE

GOD IS APPROACHABLE
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 by Linda Wood Rondeau

Categories: devotional / TUESDAY'S TREASURE

TUESDAY’S TREASURE

LINDA WOOD RONDEAU

GOD IS APPROACHABLE

FROM

THIRTY REASONS TO REJOICE

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need

Photo by edgar on Unsplash Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

In many rural third-world cultures that still cling to the worship of idols, their gods are distant. Worshipers fear approaching their deity without bringing a sacrifice, mutilating their bodies, or dancing ritualistically with high-pitched chants or screams to wake their god up.

Our God is our ever-attentive father who neither slumbers nor sleeps and stands ready to listen to his beloved children.

I am reminded of the flagellants of the Middle Ages who paraded through the streets, stripped to the waist and whipping their bodies to the point of infection or severe bleeding. These public displays of penance often happened after a period of crisis such as the black plague.

The following is a description by Sir Robert of Avesbury who witnessed the spectacle of 1349 of a sect that crossed the English Channel and descended on London:

"In that same year of 1349, about Michaelmas (September 29) over six hundred men came to London from Flanders, mostly of Zeeland and Holland origin. Sometimes at St Paul's and sometimes at other points in the city they made two daily public appearances wearing cloths from the thighs to the ankles, but otherwise stripped bare. Each wore a cap marked with a red cross in front and behind.

Each had in his right hand a scourge of three tails. Each tail had a knot and through the middle of it were sometimes sharp nails fixed. They marched naked in a file one behind the other and whipped themselves with these scourages on their naked and bleeding bodies.

Four of them would chant in their native tongue and, another four would chant in response like a litany. Thrice they would all cast themselves on the ground in this sort of process, stretching out their hands like the form of a cross. The singing would go on and, the one who was in the rear of those thus prostrate acting first, each of them in turn would step over the others and give one stroke with his scourge to the man lying under him.

This went on from the first to the last until each of them had observed the ritual to the full tale of those on the ground. Then each put on his customary garments and always wearing their caps and carrying their whips in their hands they retired to their lodgings. It is said that every night they performed the same penance."

I’m so glad God does not expect this from us.

We can approach him anywhere, at any time, with only a sincere heart. He is a God who always hears and always answers. That is why we can come to him with complete confidence.

Because of Christ and our faith in him,

we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence

Ephesians 3:12 NLT

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